Lux Row Distillers - Double Barrel - Cask Strength
$175
Lux Row Distillers – Double Barrel – Cask Strength
Collection: Double Barrel Limited Release (Barrel 5168018 & Barrel 5168023)
Proof: 118.4
Age: 12 Year
Distillery: Unknown Distillery – “Bottled for Lux Row Distillers”
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: Unknown
Website: Lux Row
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Rich wet oak, Dark Fruits – Raisin & Luxardo Cherries, Boot Leather, and a healthy dose of Holiday Spice (Cinnamon, All Spice, & Nutmeg). Alcohol is apparent but it hides behind a rich and complex nose.
Taste/Palate: Subtle heat for the proof. There’s a healthy mix of sweet and spice. First you get fruits: Orange Zest and Sweet Cherry. Next comes the sweet: Butterscotch and Toffee. In the midpalate the Holiday Spice returns.
Finish: This comes alive on the finish. The sweet and spice round out and blend together nicely and in the finish is when the maturity comes out in front. Leather and Oak comes in harmony with the palate notes.
Verdict: Two thumbs up. Seeing the price tag on this is pretty scary. Many say fair value is $10 per year. I.E. 10 year bourbon going for $100 or less is fair. Given this is a top tier release by Lux Row there’s not surprise this is above $10. Based on taste I would pick this one up again and attempt to try 2 different barrel blends.
MSRP: BUY! Price Ceiling: $200 (The most I’d pay for this bottle)
The Story: Broken record here. This bottle was picked up for me by a friend doing the Bourbon Trail. He sent me a list of what was available at Lux. I said I wanted the Double Barrel. Given the $174.99 price tag he sent back “Seriously?!?!”. Yes I was serious and I’m glad I was.
The Distillery’s Story: Lux Row has other notable lineup such as Ezra Brooks, Blood Oath, David Nicholson, Daviess County, and Rebel. They have been a non distilling producer for some time now, but as of 2018 they started to distill on their own. Since this is a 12 year blend, it’s clear they didn’t distill this. But did a great job picking it out and blending it.
The real story here is the “Double Barrel” bottle. Usually when you see Double Barrel or Double Oak that means that the juice was aged 2 separate times in Oak. With Lux Row they are actually pulling 2 barrels and blending those 2 barrels. It’s like a interesting mix of single barrel and very very “Small Batch”. Given that there is no designation for what “Small Batch” really means – could be 2 barrels, could be 20, could be 1000. I like the concept of taking 2 barrels that will compliment each other and blending them together. However, for a distillery to do this it takes time. When blending 100 barrels it’s simple. Dump them all together and bottle. For single barrel it’s also simple. Pull the plug and bottle. In my opinion if you are blending 2 barrels those 2 barrels should be tasted prior to blending to ensure that they will fit well. I have no idea if that what was done for these Double Barrel Bottles, but in the particular bottle that I had it was very good and well balanced.
To my knowledge you can only grab this at the distillery (when available) or through some secondary over priced market. If you find yourself in the area of Bardstown KY. Put Lux Row on your list and grab one of these bottles.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Nose, Palate, and Finish I rank regardless of cost. Value (recent addition) is ranked based on taste vs price.
Reviewer: David S
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